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To build a Laravel app, install PHP, Composer and the Laravel installer, create a project, then run its development server. From there, learn where routes and application code live, build a small feature such as a task list, add authentication if users need accounts, and prepare for deployment. This tutorial follows Laravel 13.x documentation; check the current installation guide before starting, because prerequisites and commands can change.
What do you need before creating a Laravel app?
Laravel 13.x installation instructions call for PHP, Composer and the Laravel installer. You also need Node and npm, or Bun, to compile frontend assets. Install and configure those tools for your operating system using their official instructions, then confirm they are available in your terminal.
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Laravel describes a web framework as a structure and starting point for creating an application, so developers can focus on building features while the framework handles common groundwork. The framework’s installation documentation also explains the setup options and requirements.
How do you create and run a Laravel project?
Once the prerequisites and Laravel installer are in place, create a project and start its local development environment. In the commands below, example-app is the directory and project name; you can replace it with your own.
#1 Best Overall
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In a terminal, run
laravel new example-appto create the project. -
Move into the project directory with
cd example-app. -
Install frontend dependencies and compile the assets with
npm install && npm run build. If you use Bun, follow the corresponding Bun commands in the installation guide instead.Quick wins for a faster PC:
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Start the development environment with
composer run dev.
Open the local address shown in the terminal to view the running app. The official Laravel installation guide documents this project-creation and development workflow.
Where do routes and application code live?
Knowing a few directories makes it easier to find where a feature belongs. Laravel’s directory structure guide describes the main locations:
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appcontains the application’s core code, including the classes that implement its behavior.Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
databasecontains migrations, model factories and seeders. Migrations describe database structure; factories and seeders support creating data.Rank #3
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routes/web.phpis a default route file for web requests. Routes here receive the web middleware group, which provides session state, CSRF protection and cookie encryption. -
routes/console.phpis another default route file, used for console routes.
A route connects a request—such as visiting a URL—to the behavior that should handle it. Laravel supports simple closure-based routes and routes that send work to controllers. Start with the routing documentation to see both approaches and their current syntax.
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A task list is a useful first feature because it gives you a concrete path from a URL to a page and, eventually, saved records and user actions. Build it in small increments rather than trying to design the whole application at once.
1. Decide what the first version must do
Keep the initial scope small: show a list of tasks, let a user add one, and provide a way to mark it complete. Decide whether tasks are shared or belong to individual accounts; that choice affects how you organize data and authentication.
2. Add a route for the page
Define a web route in routes/web.php for the task-list page. For a small first experiment, a closure can return a response. As the feature grows, route the request to a controller so request handling is separated from the route definition. Consult the Laravel routing guide for the version-specific route syntax.
3. Create a page, then connect data
Build the page that displays tasks, then decide how its data will be stored. Laravel’s database directory is where migrations, factories and seeders live. Before implementing persistence, follow the current migration and Eloquent documentation for schema and model patterns.
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4. Handle user input deliberately
When adding or updating a task, validate the submitted data before saving it. Use Laravel’s current validation documentation to choose rules and handle invalid submissions; do not assume browser-side checks alone are sufficient.
5. Verify the behavior
Try the main user actions: loading the page, adding a task, submitting invalid input, and changing completion state. As the feature expands, use the Laravel testing documentation to write automated checks for those behaviors.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When should you add authentication?
Add accounts when users need private data, personalized settings or ownership of their tasks—not simply because the application has a form. Laravel starter kits provide routes, controllers and views for registration and authentication, built using Laravel Fortify. Review the options and setup steps in the starter kits documentation.
If tasks belong to individual users, make that relationship part of the feature design: a signed-in person should only be able to access records they are authorized to see. Authentication establishes who a user is; authorization determines what that user may do. Consult Laravel’s current authorization documentation when implementing access rules.
What comes after local development?
Running an app on your own machine is not the same as making it available to users. Before launch, review the Laravel deployment guide for production configuration and deployment requirements. In particular, use production settings and protect secrets rather than carrying local development configuration into a public environment.
The deployment documentation identifies Laravel Cloud as a managed deployment platform and Forge as a service for installing and managing server tools such as Nginx, MySQL, Redis and Memcached. Those are different kinds of deployment options, not a price or feature comparison. Check each service’s current documentation to decide whether its workflow and level of server management fit your application.
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